Texas Supreme Court decisions in 2015 effectively curtailed access to public records held by private entities doing business with the government. Lawmakers have filed legislation to close what they say is a major loophole in the state's Public Information Act, which has been regarded as one of the nation's strongest open government laws since it was enacted in 1973.
Before the rulings from two cases - one being the Greater Houston Partnership and the other involving Boeing aerospace company in San Antonio - these records were available to the public.
Does the public have a fundamental right to information about who the government is making deals with and where money is being spent?
Guests:
- Kirk Watson, Texas State Senator - District 14
- Giovanni Capriglione, Texas State Representative - District 98
- Kelley Shannon, executive director for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
- Michael Schneider, vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the Texas Association of Broadcasters
